RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced a new $500 million package of military aid as part of the outgoing Biden administration's goal of sending as much support as possible before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office.
The package includes "additional missiles for Ukrainian air defense, more ammunition, more air-to-ground munitions, and other equipment to support Ukraine's F-16s," Austin said.
Austin spoke at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which is made up of about 50 partner nations that the U.S. Defense Secretary brought together to coordinate weapons support months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine Live Briefing: New Aid Package Announced At Ramstein Meeting"It's important to look at this as a comprehensive effort by the international community to support Ukraine," U.S. General Patrick Ryder told RFE/RL at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is also attending the meeting, called on Europe to coalesce around Kyiv if U.S. support wanes under the incoming White House administration.
"It's clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world -- just 11 days from now, a time when we have to cooperate even more, rely on one another even more, and achieve even greater results together. I see this as a time of opportunities," he said.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, also in Ramstein, said he expects leaders of the defense coalitions to approve "road maps" for strategic goals and key needs for military assistance until at least the end of 2027.
"These documents, developed and agreed upon jointly by Ukraine and partners, will become the basis for support and allocation of assistance in areas such as air defense, artillery, armored vehicles, drones, air force, maritime security, and other important areas. There is a lot of work ahead," he added after a meeting with Austin.
The Ramstein gathering comes a day after Ukraine suffered one of its worst single losses of life in weeks -- an attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhya that killed 13 people.
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Deadly Russian Strike On Zaporizhzhya Causes Dozens Of Casualties
Authorities believe Russia carried out the attack using glide bombs aimed at an industrial site.
Ukraine claimed earlier on January 8 that its forces hit an oil depot inside Russia that served as a strategic air base in the southern Saratov region. The Ukrainian military’s General Staff said the strike created serious logistical problems for Russian aviation and significantly reduced its ability to strike Ukrainian cities and civilian objects.
Members of the contact group have said the January 9 meeting could be the last one as its fate remains unclear under Trump.
"The most important format is to have a strong-willed determination for finding specific funding and equipment and training possibilities for Ukrainians," Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds told RFE/RL at the meeting, adding that bilateral commitments and willingness to support Ukraine are a "backbone of support."
The outgoing U.S. administration has been working to get as much aid as possible to Ukraine before Trump takes office on January 20 to improve Kyiv's negotiating position. Trump -- who has repeatedly criticized U.S. assistance to Kyiv -- has claimed he could quickly negotiate an end to the war after he returns to office.
This has raised fears in Ukraine that any hastily arranged negotiations would be used by Russia to hold on to Ukrainian territory it occupies and allow its troops to rest and rearm.
Austin has said it is important for the contact group to continue providing military aid, while German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has also warned against the West slacking off on support for Ukraine.